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Stereotypical

The fact that we are now in the year 2017 and an individual cannot be themselves without being in fear of negative connotations from another person is beyond disgusting. We as people need to get rid of not only stereotypes, but judging people overall.

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:2-5

I will never want any of you to label me as one thing or another. I am formed upon many different elements that makes me… me. So a single definition from one person’s perspective will never amount to a near perfect description of my character. This is the same for you. The world in which we all live upon brings many gifts, experiences and life. We have been blessed with minds to make our own decisions, so why do we judge one another for simply doing what they want? I do understand this is considered ‘grey area’ conversation, but we have been taught wrong from right. If someone makes a decision in their life that follows their values and morals, it is not within our right to judge them because of it. Throughout my adolescence, I’ve heard many stereotypes about myself. They end here. I am a woman founded with grace and courage. My confidence and self-assurance will exceed any stereotypes inflicted upon my character.

I am not “bougie’ “saditiy” or “stuck-up”. If anything, I would call myself high-maintenance and there’s nothing wrong with that! I was raised to standardize my life to a certain degree. This is my “norm” I like to carry myself as a chic and classy woman. Never do I ever try to make others feel like they are lesser than I am. I tend to be more quiet in rooms that are full of louder people not because I feel I am better than any of them, but because I’m observative and shy. I’m friendly, just talk to me. ❤

If I dress a certain way, it doesn’t mean you have the right to base my character upon that alone. For my 21st birthday, I went out to a bar. I had to taxi there and walk about 1 block to get there. While walking, a group of men shouted things at me. I looked at them and told them that’s no way to speak to a lady. One responded,” Who said you were a lady?” It flipped me out and I gave him a few words. What bothered me the most is what happened next. My sister, who walked aside me looked at me and said I can’t get upset when men say things like that because of the way I was dressed. That had to be the single-most ignorant thing I heard the entire night. People are going to judge you, yes. But because I’m 21 in heels and shorts, it just makes it okay for someone to disrespect me? I don’t go out accepting things I don’t agree with “because I asked for it”. -Personally, I think the guy’s parents could’ve/ should’ve did a better job raising him…

Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equal rights among people, but the problem in society resides a layer lower than race. It is also gender. There are several double-standards that society has just decided to accept. Society has created a negative “norm” that we can’t seem to shake. The way some people look at situations sometimes is not based on right vs. wrong, but on the circumstance which in most times ends in: “what a victim could’ve did differently in order to not fall into the arms of their attacker.” It’s disgusting.

My last topic which at this point does not even fall under my title is police brutality and black lives matter. I am an African American Woman and I do not feel that my life is any more or less valuable than the next person. I do believe that being at the wrong place and hanging out with the wrong people have consequences that can sometimes lead to death. Most interferences with police can be avoided by staying out of trouble. I am African American, I live a normal life and there has never been an instance in real life where I’ve witnessed a police officer brutally harming someone. At the same time, I do understand that there are instances where innocent lives are harmed by the hand of an officer. This then pulls me to my next thought: there are millions of murders and stories of homicides, but the only time a large group of people see an issue about that is when bloodshed is on the behalf of a (caucasian) police officer. What about black children being starved and killed by parents? What about those molested? What about the children who commit suicide because they are bully victims?

Our way of thinking is congested and toxic. The bias that we have on certain issues should be lifted in order for us to see the big picture. Life is far more surreal than posts and shares of news articles on a Facebook page. We as individuals must find our truth through research. If we listen and limit ourselves based on the people around us and their fears, we become just like them. Afraid. Educate yourself consistently and never set limits created by uncredible stereotypes.